Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (A MUSICAL PARODY), King's Head Theatre

What would happen if instead of Belle, there was Beau, Gaston was transformed into Chevonne, and the Beast wore a velvet corset? Fat Rascal Theatre gender-swap the classic fairytale and transform it into a hysterical and fast-paced musical.

Fun begins when the red lamé curtain is still drawn and Disney's usual intros start playing, curtesy of the ensemble. Old-style Mickey on a boat, accompanied by the well-known tune, is followed by Pixar's lamp, who jumps around awkwardly before leaving the stage to the castle and the final prelude.

The show is a flurry of inventive lyrics: from singing about the marvels of brunch ("Have A Brunch") to realising how rude Beau/Belle actually is to the village people in the opening song ("Beau"), Beauty and the Beast (A Musical Parody) doesn't disappoint in terms of funny and witty lines that spoof the original songs.

Fat Rascal is true to their word when it comes to making people laugh, but not so much in regard to feminist issues. While the production was presented as an empowering and enriching tale, the agenda is only pursued with throwaway lines instead of relying on it.

Beast is "covered in thick fur, as is her right!", and Beau needs to stop reading too much unless he wants people to start having the wrong ideas. Hilarity ensues with Beau's Oedipus complex and Chevonne's raunchiness, showing the ridiculousness of gender stereotypes once they're turned upside down.

However, this doesn't make a statement as much as creating humorous situations for the audience to chuckle at. A riot from start to finish, the musical gets alarmingly close to panto at times, with spikes of overacting and onstage tricks, which work in the moment.

Writers Robyn Grant and Daniel Elliot are strong storytellers: inspired by the originals, their songs are modern and fresh, with elaborate rhymes and a straight-to-the-point attitude. James Ringer-Beck's music (carried out on a piano by Nicola Chang, who is also the music director and sound designer) is upbeat and creative, but it doesn't overwhelm the lyrics or become overpowering, staying at an accompaniment level for the whole piece.

The company has chemistry and their comedic timing is finely tuned. The result is a lighthearted and playful Christmas show that could be the antidote to panto, but essentially remains one at heart.

Beauty and the Beadt (A Musical Parody) runs at King's Head Theatre until 6 January, 2018

Photo credit: Nick Rutter

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